Architecture as Art - Edmonton International Airport (YEG)

Plenty of airports display paintings, sculptures and multi-media exhibits. Edmonton International Airport (YEG) in Alberta decided to go bigger and bolder by making its air traffic control tower a piece of artwork in and of itself.

Standing 48 meters tall, the head-turning structure includes a horizontal eight-story office/terminal building covered in distinctive steel ribbons. The undulating exterior accents were inspired by the region’s picturesque prairies—specifically, tall grasses sculpted by prevailing west winds in summer and snowdrifts that form during winter. A strong sense of place is also evident inside the building, with patchwork carpeting and ceiling patterns that mimic prairie farmland as viewed from the air.

The airside edge of the tower roof slopes downward to maximize views for air traffic controllers inside the NAV Canada facility that is perched atop the 130,000-square-foot facility.  

The adjunct building houses a variety of key airport spaces. There’s an integrated baggage area on the arrivals level, shopping and dining concessions on the departures level, a pedestrian walkway above the central retail hall, multiple levels of airport administration offices, and a public observation deck on the mezzanine level.

The combination control tower and terminal building was designed by the Edmonton architectural firm DIALOG in partnership with EllisDon of London, Ontario. Airport leaders directed the design team to create a unique facility that would stand out and become an icon for YEG and the region. The result, a key achievement of the airport’s 2012 expansion program, leaves a memorable impression on visitors and is unlike any other tower in the industry.